Port Vila, January 19, 2026 – The Public Service Commission (PSC) has recently formalized the signing of contract variation of Director Generals respectively on January 16, 2026.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), together with the Vanuatu Institute of Public Administration and Management (VIPAM), the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management, and the Office of the Public Service Commission (OPSC), signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the 7th of November 2025 at the VIPAM Conference Room in Port Vila. This agreement marks the start of a major collaboration to strengthen the capacity of Vanuatu’s public service.

This project is cost $𝟏.𝟑 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 through ADB’s Technical Assistance Special fund.

The Chairman of the Public Service Commission Mr. Martin Raoul Mahe said that the MOU signed is very important and would like to thank the ADB team for their time, commitment for making it possible, he acknowledges Manager VIPAM Mr. Perrick Lesines and the Secretary Mr. James Melteres of the Public Service Commission for their continuous support. He continues to say that the OPSC is very excited to working with ADB and its team to make this MOU operational.

Upon respond from the ADB representative Principal Portfolio Management Specialist, Mr. Sibesh Bhattacharya said it is a very important milestone for this engagement and it would not have been possible without the leadership and support of the Chairman and the team of OPSC working closely with ADB. He said it is the first time ADB is doing something big with the Public Service in the region.

“We are looking forward to the implementation of the document to make it work and I am confident that through our collaboration (ADB & OPSC) will assist the Public Service Commission to move to another level.” Said Mr. Mahe.

ADB and VIPAM have been working closely with key public service units under the OPSC, on a scoping mission on the month of October 2025. The mission focused on creating a demand-driven framework for institutional and capacity development across the public sector. The resulting Scope of Work will guide VIPAM, OPSC, and the Government of Vanuatu in identifying and prioritizing initiatives that matter most to the country. Decisions about these priorities will be made by Vanuatu’s government stakeholders, ensuring that the process is locally owned and aligned with national development goals.

The framework was informed by ADB’s technical expertise and builds on the study “Public Service Capacity Development Needs of Vanuatu.” It is designed to remain flexible so that new needs can be added as they arise. The mission highlighted several areas of focus, including organizational reviews, competency frameworks, training needs analysis, digital learning systems, performance management, and the development of core training programs.

ADB’s support aims to create sustainable pathways for capacity development by strengthening institutions, aligning workforce planning with national priorities, modernizing training systems, and establishing clear monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

As Vanuatu moves toward its 2030 National Sustainable Development Plan, this partnership and signed MOU reflects a shared commitment to accountability, stronger institutions, and better services for the people of Vanuatu.

This collaboration between ADB and OPSC represents a significant step toward building a more capable and effective public service. With improved training and smarter systems, the Government of Vanuatu will be better equipped to deliver quality services to its citizens.

PORT VILA, 30^th October 2025. The Office of the Public Service Commission recently released the Institutional Capacity Assessment Report shedding light on the strengths, challenges, and opportunities facing institutions across Vanuatu Public Service.

A comparative analysis across ministries, alongside individual department-level reports, offers a comprehensive and granular view of institutional strengths and priority areas for development across the public service.

Conducted by OPSC’s Organisational Development Unit in August 2025, the assessment used the Institutional Capacity Assessment Grid (ICAG) to collect input from 416 public servants. The results rank all 13 ministries and provide detailed capacity profiles for departments with sufficient responses (excluding those with four or fewer submissions to ensure statistical reliability).

The ICA report showed rankings of each government ministries and the distribution of mean capacity scores across ministries focusing on the top 5 strongest and top 5 weakest capacity categories based on overall performance in the August 2025 ICAG assessment.

 The Institutional Capacity Assessment Grid (ICAG), which involved 416 public servants and data analysis, identifies critical areas for improvement in governance, strategic planning, service delivery, and resource management.

Key findings include:

• Strongest areas: Strategic planning, money management, and leadership direction
• Areas that need the most work:

1. Human Resource Management (HRM) – hiring, training, and staff support
2. Information Technology (IT) systems – modern tools and data sharing
3. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) – tracking results and learning from work
4. Infrastructure – buildings, equipment, and facilities
5. Working together – between ministries and with NGOs, community groups, and churches

OPSC extends its sincere appreciation to the 416 public servants who participated in the Institutional Capacity Assessment Grid (ICAG) survey. Their valuable contributions were essential to the development of this report.

OPSC also acknowledges the tremendous assistance of the Vanuatu Bureau of Statistics (VBoS) for the digitisation, automation of the data processing and report writing of the ICAG.

The full Institutional Capacity Assessment Report is available at www.psc.gov.vu  or contact Tel: 33360 should you wish to access a copy.

On October 17th, the Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Mr. Martin Raoul Mahe, officially congratulated Mr. Tony Tevi on his appointment as Acting Director of the newly established Department of Oceans and Maritime Affairs. The announcement was made at the VIPAM Conference room in Port Vila.

In his remarks, Mr. Mahe highlighted the government's commitment to strengthening ocean and maritime policies at both national and international levels. He noted that while the fisheries sector has been cautious about restructuring, the creation of this new department marks an important step forward.

“I’m pleased that the Commission has approved the Department of Oceans and Maritime Affairs to operate independently,” said Mr. Mahe. “As Chairman, I’m proud to see Mr. Tevi appointed to lead this important department.”

The department will work closely with the Public Service to define its responsibilities, ensuring there is no overlap with other ministries. Its focus will include managing ocean boundaries and resources.

Mr. Mahe expressed confidence in Mr. Tevi’s leadership and encouraged collaboration with the Director of Fisheries to address existing gaps and improve coordination. The creation of the Department of Oceans and Maritime Affairs will be followed by changes to the Fisheries Department as part of a wider reform.

Mr. Tevi responded by thanking the Commission and expressing his dedication to the role:

“The government’s vision is clear—we must focus on our oceans and protect our waters. It won’t be easy, but I believe everything will fall into place. I’m grateful for the trust placed in me, and I look forward to leading the team to achieve our goal of independence and strong maritime governance.”

Mr. Tevi’s appointment marks a new chapter in Vanuatu’s commitment to protecting and managing its ocean resources. With the full support of the Public Service Commission, the Department of Oceans and Maritime Affairs is poised to play a vital role in shaping the country’s maritime future. As reforms continue, the leadership and vision behind this initiative will help ensure that Vanuatu’s waters are safeguarded for generations to come.